High street bank that talks only to the wealthy

12:01AM BST 12 Apr 2007

A high street bank has outraged customers after effectively banning everyone apart from the well-off from using one of its branches.

Only those qualifying for the "Premier service" will be allowed to speak to staff at HSBC in the Canford Cliffs area of Poole, Dorset. That means having either £50,000 in savings, a £200,000 mortgage or a £100,000 mortgage plus a £75,000 salary.

All other account holders have been told they can use the cashpoint and paying-in machines but must travel to another branch if they wish to be served personally.

Anyone not prosperous enough to qualify for Premier status can still join up - at a cost of £19.95 a month.

Customers have been left outraged by the change, which begins in June.

One account holder, who did not want to be named, said: "This is outrageous.

"It is particularly discriminatory against people who are house rich and cash poor. What happens if you are an elderly person living in a £500,000 house with no mortgage and no £75,000 salary?"

An HSBC spokesman said: "Not everybody in the world is equal. Some people have higher incomes and need greater services through the bank. These customers demand a better service.

"There are no cashiers as it is already an express branch so everybody has to pay in using the machines but only Premier customers can use the adviser service.

"Canford Cliffs is a wealthy area so it might be that not many people are affected by the changes.

"There are two branches close by.

"There are 48 other Premier branches in the country but they are situated within existing branches."